In breaking news, the University of Louisville has self-imposed a postseason ban on the men’s basketball program for the 2016 season. School President James Ramsey announced the ban at a press conference on Friday afternoon, although the Louisville Courier-Journal was first to break the news.
The NCAA has been investigating the school for months after reports of serious recruiting infractions occurring on campus since roughly 2010. The infractions stemmed when a former local escort, Katrina Powell, that revealed that she had been hired by former Louisville staffer Andre McGee to have her and her employees strip and have sex with recruits and players on campus, specifically at Billy Minardi Hall. Five former players or recruits have confirmed the reports through Outside the Lines.
Self-Imposed Louisville Postseason Ban Announced by School
“I recognize that this is a significant penalty for our program,” said Ramsey. “While this was a difficult decision, it was made in the best interest of the university.” (ESPN)
Head coach Rick Pitino has repeatedly denied any involvement in the scandal, and went as far as to call out Katina Powell in a news conference last month. Pitino is particularly upset about how the new ban affects the kids, like graduate transfers Damion Lee and Trey Lewis, who came to the Cardinals program for a chance at the NCAA tournament.
The coach would go on to say, “This is a decision that’s as harsh as anything I’ve seen.”
Louisville was on pace to make the tournament this year, as ESPN’s Joe Lunardi projected the Cardinals as a No. 5 seed come March. The situation mirrors what happened at Southern Methodist University before the season started, as the Mustangs were also a team that is in position to make the NCAA tournament, but is not eligible. SMU is No. 12 in the AP Poll right now; Louisville is No. 19.
While more information is sure to leak out, the news is extremely tough to take for those thinking about the kids that worked hard to put themselves in reach of reaching the NCAA tournament.
The ACC conference tournament, which Louisville will miss, begins March 8th.
